The Perseid Meteor Shower By Bill Dickinson, CC license
Today’s good news is from the Good News Network.
The Most Active Meteor Shower of the Year Arrives in Just 5 Days’ Time
The most prolific meteor shower of the year will be at its peak on the morning of August 12th, when 150 shooting stars can be seen per hour in the Northern Hemisphere.
The meteors are called the Perseids because they appear from the general direction of the constellation Perseus, but in modern times, they have shifted to radiate on the border between Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis.
According to Valerie at Space Tourism Guide, the Perseids Meteor Shower occurs when the Earth passes through a stream of debris left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
Special conditions permit us to see the debris every August, even though the comet has a 133-year orbit around the Earth.
In a slight case of misfortune, there will be a quarter Moon in the sky that night, meaning that in already light-polluted areas with few stars, the Moon will make it slightly more difficult to see the meteorites.
However if one can position themselves in a rural-enough area with dark skies and plenty of visible stars, our solitary satellite won’t dampen the meteor shower too much at all. In fact, it might even make for a spectacular image.
A few other additional events are in the night sky this month, such as the close approach of the Moon and Mars on August 27th. They will appear just 5° apart, and both be present in the skies surrounding the constellation Taurus.
This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning more about their cosmic environment or as a crash course for little ones on how to find the Red Planet in the sky.
On the YouTube channel Learn the Sky, there’s a great guide for how to find Taurus in the night sky. Convenient to this article, it’s just under Perseus, where the meteor shower will arrive from this month. Also included in the Taurus sector is a famous deep-space object known from ancient times called the Pleides, also known as the Seven Sisters.
The good news is that we have the opportunity to observe a natural occurrence. Today’s JohnKu talks about nature. I hope you have a terrific weekend.
Opportunity by John W. Howell © 2024
Nature is a show,
If we know what to look for . . .
Always takes the breath.
Fiction Favorites 
Thanks for reminding of this. In northern Sweden, where I am originally from it is very easy to see meteors. However, I’ve seen a lot of great ones here in Dallas too. You’ve got to keep you eyes on the sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eye on the sky is the key, Thomas. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, dear John, for telling us. We live in a dark-sky-area so we’ll be able to see these meteors. We are looking forward to this.
Wishing you an easy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are very lucky to be in a dark sky area. Of course then there is the midnight sun effect of being so far North too. I hope that is not an issue where you are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear John
we are not far north enough to have aurora borealis in summer. We only see it in winter. But, of course, we need a clear sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup
LikeLike
Meteors have a way of shining through, but we have so much smoke we can’t see the stars.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The humidity here thickens the air too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I envy those who can pick out constellations and will try to find myself in a place where I might see them!
Have a fabulous Friday, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale. I hope your Friday is even more fabulous than mine. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m at work so… a little less than yours. And it’s been raining crazily, too!
But hey, it is TGIF
LikeLike
I love seeing things like that, but we are all too often over-cast with clouds. I will give it a shot though. Thank you, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It might be worth a look. Have a super weekend, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will try.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool. Still not sure if I’ll be able to drag myself out of bed when it’s dark. Mondays are rough. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Understood.
LikeLike
The meteor shower is definitely worth any trouble one has to go through to watch it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Tim. Let’s hope we will be able to see something. Where you are it should be good viewing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ll see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Always takes the breath.’ That it does. Every single time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lois. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mammoth Cave National Park, about 30 miles from us, is hosting a viewing party. We’ll be out of town, but I’m still hoping to see something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too bad to miss that at Mammouth Cave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reminder.
I might even be able to see this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent.
LikeLike
If this storm passes through we might be able to see this. It’s fairly dark here if we get away from the street lamps. It’s amazing to think that our prehistorical grandparents probably knew almost as much about the constellations as we do (without the telescope!),
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure they did. Thanks, Noelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This gives me goosebumps! So exciting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. You may need to drive out of town.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can already see some or my camera did while I was out shooting the stars last week. The Moon sets just after 11PM on the 11th going into the 12th so it’s doable for me to get out again with my camera to shoot the stars and have no moon to brighten up the sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s hop you sacrifice your sleep for us. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
The night sky always takes my breath away. So beautiful! Thank you for this informative post, John. Loved it! ✨
LikeLike
Thanks for the reminder, John. I do hope I can see them this year. Fingers crossed, the skies will be clear! Another very fine JohnKu, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Debbie. I hope you can see them too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this great news John. love nature’s shows!❣️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Thanks, Cindy
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so very welcome, John❣️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would love to see this light show! Thanks for sharing, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would like to see it too.
LikeLike
Yes, always take a breath. I hope people get to see this marvel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun post, John. It makes me think about how we need to stop more to appreciate the beauty around us. I also remembered a summer camp I worked at when I was 18. I had a group of six kids, and we were on a campout in a wilderness area. We slept under the stars and watched shooting stars flying by. It would have been about the same time of the year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was a scout, I had a similar experience. It was great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the head’s up! 🌌😁 A lovely JohnKu ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michele. I hope we all see the shower. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just as they arrive, the sky gets cloudy here. Ugh. It never seems to fail.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Somehow the god in charge of spectacular just knows when to disappoint. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is my favorite one to watch. I’ve seen some spectacular meteors streaking across the sky over the years 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
In your part of the country I would say so. Gotta get away from the redwoods though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow… I hope to get a glimpse, but knowing our cloudy skies!…. Will be doubtful in England xx Thank you for the information xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah you guys may be out of luck. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A perfect JohnKu! Very exciting, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this public service announcement, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
PSA central here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know it’s not the same as that April showers business promising May flowers, but maybe this storm can put in a good word for us regarding more agreeable weather. Just saying . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can always hope I suppose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It still counts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry I missed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person